Intel Beats The Street With Q3 Revenues Of $13.5B

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Intel just reported its third quarter 2012 earnings with revenues of $13.5 billion, flat compared to the prior year. Intel’s net income was $3 billion, up 5.1% compared to last year. Operating income was $3.8 billion, flat compared to a year ago. Its earnings per share were at $0.58 cents per share, a 7.4% increase from last year. Analysts expected Intel to report earnings of $0.50 per share on revenues of $13.2 billion for Q3, and $2.11 for FY 2012.

Here’s how EPS has ranged at Intel since the second quarter of last year:

CEO Paul Otellini said its third-quarter results reflected a continuing tough economic environment with the world of computing in the midst of a period of innovation and creativity. Looking to the fourth quarter, Intel expects continued progress in Ultrabooks and phones. They also expressed optimism about the range of Intel-based tablets coming to market. Intel expects fourth quarter revenues of $13.6 billion, “plus or minus $500 million.”

Last month, Intel cut sales projections to $13.2 billion. At the time they cited excess inventory, lower chip demand and weak demand in emerging markets. Intel also announced last month its plans to lower its workforce at its McAfee data security division.

Otellini said in the earnings call that PC sales were half of what was expected this past summer. He also expects revenues to be half off for the fourth quarter as well. As a result, the company is cutting back production.

High inventory levels reflect company’s decision to hold off on Windows 7 in anticipation of the Windows 8 launch, which will have an impact on fourth quarter results. Otellini would not say if this is the end of the PC heyday as we know it. He instead held to the story that Windows 8 does bring touch to the mainstream. The impact of that is still unknown.

The “cloud segment,” showed revenues up 50% with storage hitting record levels, up 27%. Data center revenues were mixed. Intel had strong growth in the public cloud but there was weakness in the enterprise sector.